Back in early April I wrote to the Chancellor asking for some specific support to help protect our workforce and employers in ceramics.
In my letter, having spoken with local ceramic manufacturers like Steelite International, Churchill1795 and Burleigh Pottery; and as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ceramics, I’ve asked for:
🍽 Extension of Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) - allow for this gradual emergence from economic hibernation as employers are keen to maintain their workforce, many of whom are highly skilled, to enable them to be flexible and respond to markets.
🍽 Extend Business Rates Holiday - by allowing ceramic manufacturers to access the Business Rates holiday as their premises are not deemed to be hospitality in nature, yet are an integral part of the hospitality supply chain.
I have also given my support to a letter written to the Chancellor last week by the Member of Parliament for Totnes who has offered a plan to protect the hospitality and tourism sector.
🔹 Extend Business Rates Relief threshold up to £150,000
🔹 Extend the furlough scheme beyond the end of lockdown
🔹 VAT rebates which would offer a year or quarterly rebate from VAT in 2019 or 2018
🔹 Reduce the rate of VAT on tourism to 5%
The government has done so much to protect and preserve the jobs and livelihood of many people. It’s not important to think about how we emerge from lockdown and ensure the long term future of our economy is able to prosper and thrive.